Dr. Adolfo García-Sastre is a distinguished leader in the field of viral pathogenesis whose work has profoundly shaped modern virology research. He currently serves as Director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute and Professor in the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Born in Burgos, Spain on October 10, 1964, he earned his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Salamanca in 1990 before completing postdoctoral training at Mount Sinai where he joined the faculty in 1997. His leadership has expanded significantly through key roles including co-director of the Global Health & Emerging Pathogens Institute and principal investigator for the Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis.
Dr. García-Sastre pioneered groundbreaking discoveries that transformed our understanding of influenza virus biology and host-pathogen interactions. He was the first to identify the biological role of the non-structural NS1 Influenza Protein during infection and the first to describe and provide molecular analysis of a viral-encoded interferon antagonist among negative strand RNA viruses. His reconstruction of the extinct 1918 pandemic influenza virus in 2005 made international headlines and was recognized as the paper of the year by Lancet. With over 700 peer-reviewed publications, his development of plasmid-based reverse genetics techniques for influenza viruses has enabled major advances in viral pathogenesis research and vaccine development.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. García-Sastre has significantly shaped the global virology landscape through prestigious leadership positions and collaborative initiatives. Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019 and as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors the same year, he brings considerable scientific authority to his roles. As principal investigator for one of five NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance, he coordinates multidisciplinary research across institutions worldwide. His work continues to focus on understanding viral pathogenesis mechanisms while developing novel vaccine platforms and antiviral strategies to address emerging viral threats, maintaining his position at the forefront of virology research and public health preparedness.
